Georgia
Georgia's parliament passes controversial 'foreign agents' bill amid mass protests and U.S. warnings
Washington says it might impose financial and travel restrictions on certain individuals if the bill remains unchanged or if security forces continue to violently suppress protests.
EBRD2024: EBRD expects Emerging Europe growth boost in 2024, but slightly lowers forecast
Development bank makes downward revision in latest forecasts after worse than expected Q1 figures for Central Europe.
Georgian Dream accuses West of funding violent opposition to its foreign agents law
Controversial Russian-style "foreign agent" law passes final reading on May 14, though it is expected to be temporarily vetoed by the president.
Georgians rally against "foreign agents" bill in largest protest in country's history
With parliament set to commence the bill's final reading on May 14, organisers have called for continuous protests, urging Georgians to make their voices heard.
EU-Georgia relations hit a new low as Tbilisi warns of foreign-funded power-grab
State Security Service accuses demonstrators of wanting to overthrow the government with foreign funding.
Relokanty: Is Russia’s loss Central Asia’s gain?
Maximising the benefits of Russia’s surprising exodus.
CENUSA: (Geo)political polarisation in Georgia and Moldova and what is at stake for the EU and Russia
Under the influence of electoral calculations for the year 2024, political processes in Georgia and Moldova have acquired a geopolitical component of significant proportions.
Wave of protests evolves into a serious challenge to Georgian Dream rule
Weeks of protests against the Georgian government’s Russian-style "foreign agents" bill have created a spirit of resistance that now poses a serious challenge to the country’s increasingly authoritarian regime.
Georgian protests become test of strength between government and civil society
Police have used pepper spray, water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades and beatings to try to clear the streets.
Fighting breaks out in Georgian parliament, halting vote on 'foreign agents' law
A debate to approve Georgia’s controversial 'foreign agents' bill in its second reading was disrupted after fights broke out in the chamber between members of the ruling party and opposition MPs on May 1.
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Fighting between protestors and riot police breaks out in Tbilisi
Baton-wielding riot police attacked protestors, firing rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of demonstrators in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi late on the evening on April 30, as authorities tried to end weeks of demonstrations.
Georgian oligarch Ivanishvili advocates repression, blames Western “Party of War” for country’s ills
Georgian Dream's founder's strong comments indicate that the party is not planning to back down, despite big demonstrations against the 'foreign agents' bill over the past two weeks.
Police use pepper spray on demonstrators in Tbilisi protesting against foreign agents law
Tensions soared in central Tbilisi after thousands of demonstrators filled the centre of the city on April 28 to protest against the so-called foreign agents law that is making its way through parliament.
EU warns Georgia that 'foreign agents' bill could block accession hopes
The European Parliament has called for Georgia’s accession process to be suspended if the Georgian parliament passes the so-called “foreign agent" law.
COMMENT: The EU's policy dilemma in Georgia – choosing between bad and worse
Freezing Georgia’s progress towards EU accession over the ‘foreign agents’ bill could alienate the Georgian population and bring much joy to the EU’s adversaries.
Future of Emerging Europe’s hybrid regimes hangs in the balance
With Emerging Europe increasingly polarised between democracies and authoritarian states, it is unclear in which direction the hybrid regimes – which fall between the two camps – will go, says Freedom House.
Tension mounts as Georgian riot police clash with protesters over foreign agents bill 2.0
Charles Michel, head of the European Council, emphasised that the draft law contradicts Georgia's EU accession trajectory.
Georgian Dream leader punched in head by MP amid uproar over return of “the Russian law"
President takes to social media to declare: "Georgia will not surrender to resovietisation."
CAUCASUS BLOG: What's behind the Georgian government's revival of the foreign agents law?
Bill targeting NGOs and independent media comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party faces a tough challenge at this October's parliamentary elections.
EBRD announces profit of €2.1bn in 2023
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a significant rebound in its financial performance, recording a robust profit of €2.1bn for the year 2023, up from losses of €1.1bn in 2022.